Moylan: Classic changed my career

Playing for my native Australia in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 was huge for me. I was signed by the Braves right after it ended, and without that tournament, I don't think I would be in Major League Baseball today.

The Classic was a catalyst in starting my career in the States. After I pitched against, Venezuela I was taken to Spring Training by one of our (Australian) pitching coaches who had a connection with the Braves.

I went through a Minor League spring and I was called up to the big leagues soon after that. I was up for a few days and then got sent back. I was up and down all of 2006. I had a pretty inconsistent first year and I didn't do as well as I wanted to, overall.

Fortunately, I got called up in September and pitched well enough to come back for another season.

Another factor in me getting to the big leagues was my switch to a sidearm pitching motion. It's given me movement I never had before. It's given me the ability to induce more ground balls and it's even helped my velocity.

In terms of my performance, I don't put too much stock in numbers. I just try to go out and pitch well by keeping the ball low. Things will take care of themselves from there.

Being only the 23rd Australian to play in the big leagues is a great source of pride for me, especially considering where I came from. It was a dream to pitch here from Day One. You just don't realize how hard it is to make it until you have to go through the process. It is an absolute honor for me to here.

I live in Melbourne, Victoria, now. A lot of people know that I'm playing big-league baseball, but it's not as if it's headline news or anything. I'm not a superstar in Australia by any stretch of the imagination.

But I try to do a lot of work with the baseball community when I go back. I often go back and visit my old ball clubs in Western Australia. I like to talk to the guys and help out in any way that I can.

But the reality is that there's not too much time for very much at this point. I have about four months off and only two solid weeks out of that to do what I want. As soon as those two weeks are over, I start working out again. With a new child in the house, it's a lot of work.

Peter Moylan posted a 1.80 ERA over his team-high 80 appearances in 2007. Among his season highlights includes a stretch in July and August in which he faced 25 consecutive batters without giving up a hit.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.